Stakes trio lead nine in Harvest Futurity

Nine runners, including three stakes winners, meet in Friday's $50,000-added Harvest Futurity at the Big Fresno Fair.

Run Brother Ron, Whatever Whenever, and Joe's Cannon are the stakes winners in the six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds. Run Brother Ron won the Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity at Pleasanton and the Beau Brummel at Fairplex. Whatever Whenever won the Cavonnier at Santa Rosa. Joe's Cannon, undefeated in three starts, won the Idaho Cup Juvenile at Les Bois Park.

Trainer Jeff Bonde has always had the Harvest Futurity in mind for Run Brother Ron. The race comes one month after his victory in the Beau Brummel, when he was willing to rate a bit early for the first time.

"His only bad race was at Del Mar, and he was just spinning his wheels that day," Bonde said, referring to the Polytrack surface there. "He should like the dirt track here.

"He has keen speed if we want to use it. In the last race, we didn't want him to go early, and he was drawn outside the other speed in the race. He rated nicely, and he's kind of matured as he's come along."

Bonde's No. 1 rider, Roberto Gonzalez, will ride Run Brother Ron, who is also nominated to a stakes at Calder on Saturday.

Sky Cape, third in the Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar on Aug. 12, and Sea Captain, third behind Whatever Whenever in the Aug.o5 Cavonnier, also merit consideration.

Sea Captain is a closer but could have enough pace to run at and set up his late charge, while Sky Cape is a candidate to stalk the pace.

Orientate Me had to steady sharply on the turn when making a strong move in the Sept. 15 Bay Meadows Juvenile. He finished fourth, beaten 11 1/2 lengths. Orientate Me will run coupled with stablemate Run Brother Ron.

Yougotmeconfused, Vadheim, and Autism Awareness are maidens.

Sierra Sunset, who won the Bay Meadows Juvenile by eight lengths, has been scratched from the Harvest Futurity to run in the California Cup Juvenile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.